Street cleaner



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. P. NASH.

STREET CLEANER.

Patgnted Mar. 20, 1888,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet -2.

I E. P. NASH.

STREET CLEANER.

No. 379,875. Patented Mar. 20, 1888.

)1. PETER& PholDl-fllwgnphen wnhingmn, D. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR P. NASH, OF BATAVIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO B. W. O.GREGG, OF SAME PLACE.

STREET-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,875, dated March20, 1888.

Application filed Marohil, 1887. Serial No. 230,867. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR P. NASH, a resident of Batavia, in the countyof Olermont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Street-Cleaners,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined streetcleaner and elevator.

The various features of my invention will be IC hereinafter fullyexplained, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalvertical section of the working portions of the machine. Fig. 3 is a topplan view of the frame. Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of thelifting devices.

A represents thegroundwheels, Bthe main frame. It may be made of anydesired form and rigidly attached to the axle.

a represents a secondary frame for raising and lowering the workingparts.

The cleaning devices are constructed and arranged as follows: In orderto have two or more cleaners working on the ground at the same time andfollow one another up the ele vator in the proper manner to deliver thedirt, -I arrange them upon an endless carrier, 1,

working over drums 2 3, placed in the same horizontalplane. The endlesscarrier I prefer to make of sprocket-link chains engagingsuitablesprockets on the drums. To these sprocketchains the cross-bars4. of the carriers are attached. Drum 2 is preferably journaled directly to the main frame B. Drum 3 isjournaled to the secondary frame a,the front ends of which hinge upon the shaft 5 of drum 2. The rear endsof said frame are suspended upon the elevating-segments 6, which aremounted upon the rails of the main frame.

7 represents a segmental ratchet-plate secured to a transverse rod thatconnects the elevating-segments, 8 an elevatinglever fulcrumed in saidtransverse connecting-rod, and 9 a lock carried by the lever 8 andarranged for engaging with the notches of segment 7 to hold the frame inany desired adjustment. By means of these devices for raising andlowering one end of the secondary frame the pressure can be regulatedaccording to the nature of the work, or other circumstances whichrequire adjustment of the devices.

I have shown two forms of cleaners. one be ing a brush, 10, the other ascraper, 11. I prefer to use a part of both sets of cleaners,as shown.These devices are attached to U- shaped springs 12, one end of which isattached to bars 4, secured to the carrier-chains. By having the drums 23 stretched apart some dis- 6o tance it brings two or more sets ofcleaners upon the ground at the same time, so that one is following theother. By means of these U shaped springs the brushes or scrapers whenthey strike an obstruction yield backward as well as rise, therebypassing over obstacles easily and avoiding danger of breaking thesprings and attachments.

In order that the cleaners may be automatically raised over unyieldingobstaclesand that they may follow the undulations of the street withoutdigging too hard into the surfaces, I have arranged a shoe, 13,which isattached to the head 14 of the cleaners. I have preferably placed themat one end of the scraper 11 and centrally in the brushes 10. The loweror dragging edge of this shoe is preferably a slight distance above theedge of the cleaner, so as to serve as aguide. Springs 12 will preventundue rising of the cleaners and hold them down to their work.

15 represents an incline over which the dirt taken up by the cleaners iselevated. It is made concave and concentric with the front drum, 2. Inorder that this incline may not be injured in passing over unyieldingobstacles and accommodate itself to the inequalities of the surfacesover which it is drawn, I make the lower end of this incline of sections16, which are hinged to the main portion 15 by the centers 17. Ipreferably make a section about as wide as one of the cleaners oppositeit, so that if this incline comes against a bowlder or obstruction, onlyone portion of it will be raised off the ground while the rest of the 5device is scraping and elevating dirt. In

order that these sections may be held down. I provide coiled springs 18,which are attached to the stationary section 15, the forward ends beingattached to the sections 16 in such IOO manner that as the sections areraised the spring is compressed, and when the strain raising thesections is removed the sections will quickly return to their position.Ihe shoes 13 also perform the function of holding the sections down, sothat the dirt carried forward by the cleaners will be delivered upon theincline. The spring 12 allows the scraper and cleaner to yieldsimultaneously with strains applied either to the brush or to thesection 16 when they are passing over said sections.

By making the springs U-shaped, or other form which will allow backwardas well as upward movement, another advantage is obtained. The brushesin passing up the incline yield backward,owing to the additional strainof moving the dirt up the incline. As soon as'the brushes leavetheincline,the springs recoil quickly, which materially assists incleaning them of the dirt, especially when it is moist.

By having two or more brushes or cleaners working at the same time uponthe ground the missing of one for a short time will not af-- feet thethorough working of the cleaner.

I have shown a cart, 19, attached to the device, so that the elevatorwill deliver the material carried up over its surface into said cart.

20 represents ashelf or spout for guiding the material into the cart.

I do not Wish to confine myself to the dump ing into a cart, as anyother form of dirt-receiver may be substituted.

21 represents a driving spur-wheel rigidly secured to the axle or to thehub of the groundwheel.

22 represents a spur-gear meshing with gear 21, and which is keyed uponthe shaft of the drum 2, for conveying motion to the endless carrier bythe revolution of the ground-wheels in the ordinary manner.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In astreet-cleaning machine, the combination of the main frame B, thetransverse drums '2 and 3, placed in the same horizontal plane, theelevating and depressing frame at, having its front end hinged on theshaft-of the forward drum, 2, said forward drum being journaled in themain frame,and the rear drum being journaled in the elevating anddepressing frame, and an endless carrier mounted on said drums andcarrying a series of cleaners, substantially as described.

2. In a street-cleaning machine, the combination, with the concaveincline 15, having movable sections 16, of an endless carrier providedwith alternating series of brushes and scrapers, each corresponding withsaid movable sections in width, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the cleaners secured to the endless carrier by ayielding connection, the guide shoes 13, attached thereto, substantiallyas specified.

4. In combination with an endless carrier, and cleaners secured theretoby yielding connections, a concave incline composed of astationary upperportion, 15, hinged movable sections 16, each having a widthcorresponding with the cleaners, and springs 18, to hold said movablesections to their work, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a series of cleaners having the shoes 13, theconcave incline having the movable sections 16, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereofI have hereu nto set my hand.

EDGAR P. NASH.

Witnesses:

ROBERT ZA'HNER, M. E. MILLIKAN.

